Five questions about … the Orioles

The Orioles ruined the Red Sox's year on the last day of the 2011 season. But they still have a long way to go to become a real factor in the AL East.<br> Click on the photos for a preview of this weekend's Angels-Orioles series at Angel Stadium.<br>AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

If the MLB season were to end today – a lot of people would be very surprised.

But just as surprising, the Baltimore Orioles would finish a season with a winning record for the first time since 1997. Long dormant in the powerful AL East, the Orioles have shown some signs of life, getting out to a 8-5 start and sitting atop their division standings.

There is plenty of time for the proper order of things to re-assert itself in the AL East. For now, we checked in with Baltimore Sun baseball writer Dan Connolly for some perspective on the Orioles as they arrive in Anaheim.

Click through the photos for a preview of this weekend's Angels-Orioles series.

The Orioles ruined the Red Sox's year on the last day of the 2011 season. But they still have a long way to go to become a real factor in the AL East. Click on the photos for a preview of this weekend's Angels-Orioles series at Angel Stadium.AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER1) After interviewing several top candidates (including the Angels' eventual choice, Jerry Dipoto), the Orioles made Dan Duquette (pictured with Orioles manager Buck Showalter) a surprise hire as their new GM last fall. Why did the Orioles go so deep into their list of candidates? AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: Pick a candidate, and there is a different reason for why he isn't with the Orioles. In the case of Dipoto (pictured), he was the first to interview and the Orioles really liked him. But they wanted to interview others and while they went through the lengthy, glacier-slow process, the Angels seized their man (which I think was a great hire, by the way). The bottom line is that the Orioles weren't aggressive in several components during their search, while a few candidates decided to remove themselves from consideration. When they interviewed Duquette, though, the Orioles were impressed with his intellect and his international experience and went after him quickly. PHOTO BY KEVIN SULLIVAN/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER2) Is this the year Matt Wieters puts it all together and turns into a superstar?AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: Wieters was on Baseball Prospectus' list of all-time draft disappointments heading into last year, which was his second full season in the majors. The expectations on this kid have been ridiculous, especially given his position. His first two years in the majors he really concentrated on the defensive part of the game, and has excelled in that aspect. He won the AL Gold Glove for catchers in 2011 (and deserved it). In the second half of last season – and so far in 2012 – his focus seems to be improving his offensive game. I'm not sure there will ever be a year in which he suddenly turns into a superstar. His is a steady progression, but I think at one point, perhaps this year, most will consider him the best overall catcher in the game.AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER3) The Orioles were active on the international market this off-season. What did the Orioles get by signing Asian pitchers Wei-Yin Chen (a Taiwanese left-hander who pitched in Japan, pictured), Kim Seong-min (Korea) and Tsuyoshi Wada (Japan) – other than red-faced for jumping the gun on Korean right-hander Seong-min? AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: Chen is exceptionally intriguing. He is a lefty that can throw his fastball in the 92, 93 mph range and has good command of several other pitches. He is 26 but became a free agent early without a posting fee because he is Taiwanese and negotiated his first contract in the Japanese league as a foreigner. The Orioles feel like they may have found a gem in him, though he will need to adjust to the big leagues.Tusyoshi Wada is a softer-tossing lefty who has been hurt for much of the spring. He is making rehab starts now and could be ready to enter the rotation by late April. Like many Japanese pitchers, he relies on location, and if it is not there, he could be in for a rude awakening in the majors. The Kim saga is a disaster – they had to void his contract and are currently banned from scouting in Korea because the club didn't inform the authorities that it was scouting the 17-year-old. The good news for the Orioles is that they are being aggressive internationally, something they haven't been in years. The bad news: Only the Orioles can get thrown out of an entire country. AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER4) If (when?) the Orioles are out of the race in mid-season, who gets traded – Adam Jones? Nick Markakis? Brian Roberts (pictured)? All of the above? AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: Adam Jones is the most likely to be traded this summer or next winter. He's only 26 and is a budding star. But he also is a free agent at the end of 2013, and the Orioles think he may be tough to re-sign. So there is definitely a faction that believes the Orioles should move him for young pitching now, while his value is high. Because of their balky salaries, Markakis and Roberts would be impossible to move for a real return. And they are too popular to just salary dump. Roberts is completely untradeable. He has played just 98 games in the past two seasons due to various injuries including concussion symptoms that won't go away and is currently on the DL. AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER5) If Orioles manager Buck Showalter is so smart that he can re-invent the game of baseball, why can't he re-invent geography and get the Orioles out of the stacked AL East?AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTERA: If there was a way, Buck would do it. He has an idea for everything. The funny thing is I think Buck enjoys being in the AL East (pictured above with Rays manager Joe Maddon). He says you have to eventually face those behemoths in the postseason anyway if you want to get to the World Series. Besides, he is not a fan of the Yankees (one of his old teams) or the Red Sox, so he'd take real pleasure in beating them. It just doesn't look conceivable given the respective rosters. But if Showalter can, well that would be the ultimate feather in a pretty solid managerial career. AP PHOTO, TEXT BY BILL PLUNKETT/THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Pitching probables for the Angels-Orioles series in Anaheim this weekend:

User Agreement

Keep it civil and stay on topic. No profanity, vulgarity, racial
slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about
tragedies will be blocked. By posting your comment, you agree to
allow Orange County Register Communications, Inc. the right to
republish your name and comment in additional Register publications
without any notification or payment.